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As the hottest summer months arrive, mosquito season follows, and with it comes the risk of contracting the potentially deadly virus. west nile virusleading cause of mosquito-borne diseases in the United States.
Recently, several places across the country have detected the virus. As of June 16, West Nile has been found in mosquito samples in at least 10 counties in California. Ten other batches of mosquitoes tested positive for the virus in Illinois. After being identified in four mosquito samples in Arlington, Texas, the city conducted targeted ground spraying in the second half of June. Iowa And Nebraska also saw their first human infections with the virus this month, and Arizona has already recorded five probable cases.
The increase in signs of the disease coincides with National Mosquito Awareness Week (June 18-24), a public health campaign organized by the nonprofit American Mosquito Control Association that raises awareness of the disease contracted from the bite of these pesky little insects.
“Diseases such as West Nile virus pose a serious health threat, especially to our elders or people who have weakened immune systems,” said Sameer Vohra, MDdirector of the Illinois Department of Public Health, in a statement. “We have already identified 10 batches of mosquitoes positive for West Nile virus, and this underscores why it is important for Illinois residents to protect themselves this summer. Please “fight the bite” by wearing insect repellent outside and eliminating standing water around your homes where mosquitoes can easily breed.
How bad will West Nile be this year?
Illinois officials are strongly encouraging the public to take preventative action as 34 human cases and eight deaths have been attributed to the disease in the state in 2022 – the most in a year since 2018, when there were 17 deaths .
While the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show only 13 confirmed cases of West Nile so far this year in nine states, 1,126 infections and 90 deaths have been reported in 2022.
“Due to the expected seasonality of the infection, the numbers are expected to increase now as the weather in most of the United States warms up,” says Jennifer Horney, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology and senior professor at the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware in Newark. The CDC notes that most cases occur between July and September, although warmer parts of the country may have a longer season.
In the past two decades since West Nile virus first appeared in the United States, it has caused more than 55,000 reported cases of human illness.
How does West Nile virus spread to people?
Edward Butler, MD, an infectious disease physician who practices at Tufts Medical Center Community Care in Medford, Mass., says the disease gradually spread westward via disease-carrying birds. Mosquitoes become infected after feeding on birds.
“The mosquito can then easily transmit the infection to a human,” says Dr Butler.
Public health experts, however, are unsure of the extent of transmission this year.
“While there is a consistent disease burden in various parts of the country from year to year, the size and location of outbreaks are highly variable and difficult to predict,” says Candice Burns Hoffmann, spokesperson for the National Center. for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.
Burns points out that in 2021, Maricopa County, Arizona had one of the largest outbreaks on record, with more than 1,400 cases of illness and 100 deaths reported, compared to only a small number of cases the year. former. Yet, at this point, nothing seems to indicate unusual levels of activity.
West Nile virus can cause serious illness
THE New York State Department of Health points out that most people (70-80%) who are infected show no symptoms. However, around 1 in 5 infected people will develop symptoms including fever, headache and body aches, nausea and sometimes itchy skin and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms usually last a few days, but can last for several weeks. Usually symptoms appear 3 to 14 days after being bitten.
Butler warns that West Nile fever can be especially problematic in the summer. “If you have a fever of 103 in July, you lose a lot of sweat, so you’re more likely to get dehydrated,” he says. “You’re really going to have to drink a lot to make up for the fluid losses when you have a fever in the summer.”
In less than 1% of cases, the virus can cause a neuroinvasive disease such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis, which can cause headaches, high fever, stiff neck, muscle weakness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, seizures, paralysis, and coma. THE CDC estimates that about 10% of people with serious illness die. Those who survive often have long-term symptoms or disabilities.
“The people most at risk for neuroinvasive disease are people over 50 and those with chronic conditions, especially those with weakened immune systems,” Hoffman says.
Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment except to treat symptoms and provide supportive care. Affected individuals should consult their healthcare provider for more information.
Take steps to prevent mosquito bites
Even if a mosquito is not infected, people will want to take steps to protect themselves against insect biteswhich at the very least are often itchy and annoying.
- Get rid of standing water. Because mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in standing water, the CDC advises removing water that accumulates in clogged gutters, air conditioners, tarps, wheelbarrows, plant debris, flower pots, pet dishes, wading pools, old tires or baths of birds. “Frequent heavy rains like those that recently hit the northeastern United States could provide good breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” says Dr Horney, “and may indicate a worse-than-usual season.”
- Attach screens to windows and doors. The federal health agency recommends using screens on windows and doors and sealing gaps.
- Put on clothes that cover the skin. Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks, and shoes outside during peak mosquito activity.
- Use insect repellent. The CDC provides a list of effective products, including DEET. “If used according to manufacturer’s specifications, DEET is very safe and appears to be better than other products” at repelling mosquitoes, Butler says.
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